<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>I discuss the nativeness of heritage speakers of Breton in the twentieth century. I present a syntactic test designed for Breton that sets apart its native speakers from its late learners, for whom Breton is a second language. Nativeness is revealed by a better tolerance to syntactic overload when sufficient linguistic stress is applied. Both heritage speakers of inherited Breton and early bilinguals whose linguistic input comes exclusively from school answer this test alike, which I take as a sign they are cognitively natives. The syntactic nativeness of children deprived of familial Breton input suggests there is many more young Breton natives among contemporary speakers than previously assumed. Taking stock of these results, I discuss the cultural erasure of Breton native speakers. I compare their cultural treatment with the figure of the ghost. I end by a discussion of the term <italic>new speaker</italic>.</p>
</abstract>

I discuss the nativeness of heritage speakers of Breton in the twentieth century. I present a syntactic test designed for Breton that sets apart its native speakers from its late learners, for whom Breton is a second language. Nativeness is revealed by a better tolerance to syntactic overload when sufficient linguistic stress is applied. Both heritage speakers of inherited Breton and early bilinguals whose linguistic input comes exclusively from school answer this test alike, which I take as a sign they are cognitively natives. The syntactic nativeness of children deprived of familial Breton input suggests there is many more young Breton natives among contemporary speakers than previously assumed. Taking stock of these results, I discuss the cultural erasure of Breton native speakers. I compare their cultural treatment with the figure of the ghost. I end by a discussion of the term new speaker.

The Nativeness of Breton Speakers and Their Erasure

Studia Celtica Posnaniensia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"The Nativeness of Breton Speakers and Their Erasure"}

I discuss the nativeness of heritage speakers of Breton in the twentieth century. I present a syntactic test designed for Breton that sets apart its native...

The Nativeness of Breton Speakers and Their Erasure

Published Online: Dec 13, 2019

Page range: 1 - 26

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/scp-2019-0001

Keywords
nativeness, new speaker, Breton, heritage language

© 2019 Mélanie Jouitteau, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The Nativeness of Breton Speakers and Their Erasure

Published Online: Dec 13, 2019

Page range: 1 - 26

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/scp-2019-0001

Keywordsnativeness, new speaker, Breton, heritage language

© 2019 Mélanie Jouitteau, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
nativeness, new speaker, Breton, heritage language